Auburn’s future WRs dominate in front of coaches

Auburn commits Shedrick Jackson and George Pickens made themselves at home in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

The Hoover (Ala.) wide receiver tandem shined in the state championship game — with Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey in attendance — to lead the Buccaneers to yet another 7A state title over McGill-Toolen. Auburn’s future receiver duo showed the Tigers’ offensive staff just how lethal they can be in the passing game.

The first: A 7-yard reception by Pickens. It was set up by a 43-yard reception by Jackson the previously play. Jackson outran two defenders and caught a pass as he fell to the ground. Pickens capitalized on the next snap to put Hoover up 14-3.

The second: Hoover quarterback Jalen Parker connected with Jackson on a short underneath route. Jackson didn’t plan on keeping it underneath. He took the short reception 70 yards on a catch-and-run to put the Buccaneers ahead by two touchdowns.

The third: In similar but different fashion, Pickens caught a pass on a slant pattern that he took to the house. It didn’t come without some fight, however. Pickens caught the slant and was quickly hit by two defenders. He absorbed the contact from both and was virtually unmoved. Pickens regained his balance and took off for the end zone, capping off a 54-yard touchdown catch.

The fourth: Jackson made the defensive back look absolutely silly. He ran a tricky fade route near the goal line that left the McGill-Toolen cornerback in the dust. Parker connected with him easily for a 15-yard score to put Hoover up 41-6, which was all but over.

By the end of the game, Jackson accounted for 6 catches for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pickens caught 2 passes for 61 yards and took both for touchdowns.

There were a lot of Auburn Tigers leaving Bryant-Denny Stadium smiling on Wednesday night.

As one CB picks Alabama, Auburn visits Memphis commit

The cornerback position has been one of the more enigmatic position groups for Auburn in the Class of 2018. Auburn has ranged from recruiting unoffered, in-state players to highly-ranked, out-of-state prospects to junior college talent. That base hasn’t changed much throughout the 2017 football season, but it’s starting to take shape now.

Auburn’s top cornerback option, of late, has been LSU transfer Saivion Smith, who officially visited for the Iron Bowl. On Tuesday, Smith did what many have been expecting him to do for a while — he committed to Alabama.

Cornerback target CD Daniels (right) has set up his official visit date. (Benjamin Wolk/SEC Country)

That means two of the Tigers’ top cornerbacks in the 2018 class — Jalyn Armour-Davis and Smith — are both pegged to the Crimson Tide right now. It’s forcing the Tigers to cover all of their bases on the recruiting trail.

That’s what happened Tuesday.

Rodney Garner was on the road to see recruits and stopped by Homewood (Ala.) in Birmingham to see Memphis cornerback commit CD Daniels. He has visited Auburn several times this fall and has indicated to SEC Country that he feels an offer is within reach. That would be a game-changer.

The Tigers haven’t offered Daniels yet, but it says something they are going to see him at his school during the contact period.

Daniels also organized some more news during his conversation with Garner. He plans to take an official visit to Auburn on Jan. 26, which will give the Tigers a month to figure out the cornerback position before hosting a guy who is considered to be a little down Auburn’s recruiting board.